Sheet-opening machine



Dec. 28 1926.

c. A. FRAHM SHEET OPENING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed August 8, 1921 C A FRAHM SHEET OPENING MACHINE Dec. 28 1926 Dec. 28 1926.

C. A. FRAHM SHEET OPENING MACHINE Filed Augus"v 8, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Dec. 28 1926.

C. A. FRAHM SHEET OPENING MACHINE Filed August 8, 1921 6 SheetsSheet 5 C. A. FRAHM SHEET OPENING MACHINE .Dec. 28 1926.

Filed August 8, 1921 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Z WWW mm Patented Dec. 28, 1926.

' UNITED \ST'ATESPPATENT OFFICE.

CARL A. FRAHM, OF CANTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR, BY MESIiE ASSIGNMENTS TO CENTRAL ALLOY STEEL CORPORATION, OF CANTON, OHIO, A CO EPOBATION OF NEW YORK.

SHEET-OPENING MACHINE.

Application filed. August 8, 1Q2 1. Serial No. 490,817.

The invention relates tot a machine for separating metal sheets ofa pack into which they have been folded and rolled in a hot mill for reducing to a desired thickness orgauge; and the object of the improvement is to perform by mechanism, the manual methods usually employed for separatlng the sheets, without tearing, wrinkling, rolling or rupturing the sheets, so that they will be individually separated and delivered from the pack in a flat condition for the finishing processes.

The method of gopening a sheet by manual means usually involves the manipulation of one corner of the pack to separate the corners of the sheets; an upward bending of one end of the top sheet and a clamping engagement of the same by hand tongs; an upward pulling of the same end of the sheet by the tongs accompanied, when necessary, by a cutting under operation by a sharp edged tool for separating the more closely adhering portions which have not been actually welded: and the delivery of the separated sheet to a loose pack with others, pending the performance of the finishlng processes; and the present mvention contemplates the performance of the same or similar methods by mechanical means, all of which are cushioned or may yield 'in simulation of manual means, so as not to distort or destroy the sheets.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which- 4 Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of the receiving end of the machine;

Fig. 2, a side elevation of the delivery end of the machine; I

Fig. 3. an end elevation of the recelvlng end of the machine;

Fig. 4, a side elevation of the corner opening mechanism;

Fig. 5, an end elevation of the same; I

Fig. 6, a plan of the same;

Fig. 7, a section on line VII'-V II, Fig. 6, illustrating the operation of the same;

Fig. 8, an inner end elevation of the end opening mechanism;

Fig. 9,.a fragmentary elevation of the same, omitting the channel guide supporting frame; Y

Fig. 10, a fragmentary plan of the same;

Fig. 11, a fragmentary section as on line XI-XI, Fig. 3, illustrating the operation 66 of the same;

Fig. 12, a detached outer side elevation of the sword oscillating disk;

Fig. 13, a {flan section of one opening-shoe on line XII --XIII, Fig. 14; and Fig. 14 a sectionof same on line XIV-XIV, Fig. 13.

Similar numerals refer to similar partsthroughout the drawings.

The machine includes the corner-opening mechanism indicated generally by A; the end clamp mechanism indicated enerally by B; the end opening mechanism indicated generally by G; the end grip mechanism indicated generally by D; the shoe opening mechanism indicated generally by E; the side grip mechanism indicated generally by F; the shoe grip mechanism indicated generally by G; and the sheet delivery mechanism indicated generally by H.

Before opening a pac of sheets which has been folded and rolled in a hot mill, the ends and sides are trimmed; and the trimmed pack is placed upon the receiving. end of a table 2 which has one corner formed with an oblique edge 3, beyond which, the corner 4 of the pack extends and overhangs, as shown in Figs. 4 to 7. v

The corner opening mechanism A includes a pair of jaws 5 mounted on a slide stem 6 operated in a swinging guideway 7 by a pitman 8 and a crank Q' carried by a shaft 10, having a pin clutch 11 thereon receiving power by a pulley 12 and actuated by a pedal 13. The guideway 7 swings on a pivot 14 and is operated by a pitman 15 connected to the piston rod 16 of an air cylinder 17 controlled by a three-way valve 18.

-The corner opening mechanism also includes a swinging clamp bar 19 pivoted at. 20 and operated by a pitman 21- connected by a universal joint 22 to a bracket 23 se cured to the piston rod 16, so that theoperation of the clamp bar is coordinated with the swinging of the jaws, the inoperative position of these parts being shown by'broken lines in Fig. 4.

For operating the corner opening mechanism, the valve 18 is operated to retract the piston rod 16 which swings the jaws 5 into working position ono'pposite. sides of the corner of the pack as shownin Figs. 4 to 7; and at the same time, the bar 19 is swung down to clamp the pack along the oblique I edge of the table, as shown in the same figures; whereupon the operator presses the pedal 13 and the clutch 11 rotates shaft 10 and causes the pitman 8 to reciprocate the jaws 5 rapidly upward and downward, which bends the protruding corner for the pack alternately upward and downward, as shown in Fig. 7, which separates the corners of the sheets and causes them to assume a fan-like divergence. The pedal is then raised and the pin clutch 11 stops the crank shaft 10 with the jaws in normal position, shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, whereupon the valve 18 is operated for moving the piston 16 outward, which swings the jaws 5 and the clamping bar 19 to inoperative position, pending the removal of the sheets of one pack and the placing of another pack upon the table.

The end clamping mechanism B includes a clamping bar 24 operated by the piston 25 of an air cylinder 26 controlled by athreeway valve 27. 'hen the sheets have been opened at the corner of the pack, the valve 27 is operated to retract the piston 25 and bring the bar 24 into clamping engagement with the end of the pack, for the operation of the end opening mechanism.

The end opening mechanism C-includes a bearing head 28 mounted for sliding in gnideways 29 and secured to the piston 30 of an air cylinder 31 controlled by a threeway valve 32; in which bearing head is journalled a cylindric bearing block 33. having a controlling arm 34 with aroller 35 on its end operating in a channel guide 36 for controlling the rotation of the bearing block in the bearing head. I l

The outer portion of the guide channel 36 is formed straight and parallel with the axis of the bearing block 3350 as to hold the same from turning in the bearing head when the same slides inward a corresponding distance'upon the guideways 29; and the inner end 36' of the guide channel is inclined downward and curved on the axis of the bearing block, so that when the bearing head moves further inward, the bearing block will be given a quarter turn by the curved portion of the channel guide.

The outer end ot a hold-down bar 37 is secured in the axis of the bearing block 33, and is arranged'to extend over the pack 1 adjacent to the end. clamp 24 when the bearing head is moved inward upon its slideways, as shown in Fig. 11; and the shank 38 of a straight sword 39 is eccentrically journalled in the bearing block 33 below and in rear of the hold-down bar 37.

Upon the outer end of the sword shank is secured a disk 40 having a radial slot 41 in its outer face, in which operates a slide block 42, pivoted on a crank pin 43 secured to the disk 44 mounted on the spindle 45 of a conthe crank.

stantly operating air or electric motor 46; by which gearing the sword is rapidly oscillated upon its axis.

\Vhen the end of the pack has been secured by the clamp 24, the valve 32 of the air cylinder 31 is operated to retract the piston 30, which moves the bearing head 28 inward upon the slideways 29; during which movement the hold-down bar 37 passes over the top sheet of the pack, and the point of the sword 39 enters under the opened corner of the same sheet, and by its oscillating movement, works its way under the sheet between the end clamp 24 and the hold-down bar 37, as shown in Fig. 11. A guide 39 secured to the frame ofthe machine, serves to steady and properly direct the end of the sword.

This operation is continued until the end of the sword reaches the further side of the pack, whereupon an arm 47 on the bearing head trips the valve 27 and operates the air cylinder 26 to raise the end clamp 24 and release the end of the sheet; whereupon the curved portion 36" of the channel guide rotates the bearing head and the sword around the axis of the hold-down bar 37, and bends the end portion 1 of the sheet upward in front of this bar, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 11, in position for the operation of tihe end gripping mechanism, as shown in hereupon another arm 47 on the bearing head tripsthe valve 32 and operates the air cylinder 31 to. retract the bearing head and the oscillating sword and hold-down bar, to their normal position at the side of the machine.

The end gripping mechanism D includes a transverse frame 48 slidably mounted in upright giiideways 49 and carrying jaws 50 for gripping the upturned end of a sheet.

The jaw frame may be normally held in upr ward inoperative position shown in Fig. 4, by the expansion springs 51 and is driven downward into gripping position shown in Fig. 1, by an air cylinder 52 controlled by a valve 53.

When extension springsfor retracting the frame are used, the air cylinder 52 is controlled by a two way valve, but it is evident that the same cylinder can be used for retracting the frame upward as well as driving it downward by the use of a three-way controlling valve; in either case the controlling valve lever 54 may be operated manually at the proper time for driving the grip frame downward.

The end gripping jaws 50 are operated by an air cylinder 55 carried bythe clutch frame and having its piston 56 operatively connected with the jaws by a rocking crank shaft 57 The air cylinder 55 is controlled by a valve 58 and is automatically operated to clamp the jaws togetherby a lever 59 in of t 1e springs or the operation o the shoe opening mechanism.

The shoe opening mechanism E includes a series of shoes 62 which have a ivotal connection 63 intermediate their en swith endless chain conveyors 64 operating on sprocket wheels 65 and 65' continuously driven by a motor 66 and a gearing 67. The opening shoes have guide rollers 68 near their toe ends engaging in channel guides 69 for controlling thelr turning and returning movements, and guide rollers 68 at their heel ends engaging .the channel guides 69 for directing the toe of the shoe to pass over the end clamp and enter the ni%of the upturned end of the sheet.

ach opening shoe 62 is made in the shape of a wide wedge, and in the form illustrated,

.is of substantially a right triangle section,

withthelower edges of the walls forming a flat base 70, with an inclined wedge wall71 and a truncated top wall 72; over-which wedge and top walls the sheet rides, as itis separated from the pack when the shoe is driven forward by the conveying mechanism. K

A series of cutting knives 73 are located in the toe-of the shoe, and are secured lay their shanks74 to the forward end of hol ers 75 mounted for sliding. longitudinally upon bars 76 arranged transverse the shoe; each holder having an L-arm 77 on its rear end connected on its rear side with an expansion spring 7 8, and having a pole 79 on 1ts forward side normally spaced from the rear end of a magnet 80 which is intermittently energized by an electric current controlled by a timing motor 81 and a timer 82, and retarded by a resistance 83. These parts are so arranged that the magnets for alternate knife holders will be successively ener ized to drive the alternate knives forwar beyond the toe of the shoe, as the shoe is operated forward under a sheet.

T e forward ends of the knives are preferably rounded, and the operation of the knives causes them to out under the sheets in advance of the shoe, for separating the s ots or zones thereof which adhere too tightly to be opened merely by the wedge action of the shoe.

The pivotal connection 63 of the shoe with the conveyor chains 64 are preferably made by spring controlled slides and guides 84, which permit the shoe to yield and give the opening knives time to out their way through the more tightly adhering portions.

of the sheets. V

As the opening shoe moves under a sheet, the opening spring 51 pulls the end of the sheet upward, and the heel of the shoe passes under the same' forward beyond the side grip mechanism, to the osition shown--' in broken lines in Fig. 1, which deflects the rear end portion of the sheet upward for the operation of the side grip mechanism.

The side grip mechanism F includes a gripping arm. 85 normally held clear of the path of the sheets and the opening shoes by an expansion spring 86, and operated by the piston 87 of an air cylinder 88 to clamp the side of a sheet against the under side of a frame bar 89.

The air cylinder 88 is controlled by a valve 90 having a lever 91 arranged to ;be swung by an arm 92. on the side of a shoe, to open the valve for operating the cylinder to clamp the side of a sheet, when the shoe has passed the side clamping mechanism; the lever 91 being connected b a bar 93 to a lever 94 arranged to open t e valve 58to release the end clamping jaws, and free the same for another operation.

The shoe grip mechanism includes a grip 1 arm 95 pivotally mounted on'the side of the shoe, and normally held tothe side thereof by action of an expansion spring 96. A swinging cam guide 97 is pivotally'connected at 98 to a frame bracket and is normally held in the path of the grip arm 95 by action of compression spring 99 when the same approaches the delivery end of the machine, thereby clamping the side of the sheet to the top of the shoe before the same emerges from under a sheet which has been opened or separated fromthe pack. a

At or just before the clamping of the sheet by the grip arm 95 on the shoe, the arm 92 on the side of the shoe acts upon a lever 100 and the connecting bar 101 to open the valve 90 and release the-side grip arm 89, so that the sheet will be moved forward v by the shoe to the delivery mechanism.

The delivery mechanism H, includes conveyor rolls 102, 102' and 102" with inter-' vening rails 103 and 103' leading to a truck I 104 or other receptacle for the separated sheets; and converging guides 105 and 105' are provided in front of the rolls 102, to direct the forward end of a sheet between the rolls, as shown in Fig. 2. The cam guide 97 is arranged to release the shoe grip arm 95 from the sheet-immediately after it has been engaged by the conveyor-rolls 102.

1. A sheet pack separating machine including laterally moving" means separating one end of a sheet from the pack, and longitudinally moving means cutting under and further separating the sheet.

'2. A sheet pack separating machine ineluding laterally movin means separating one end of a sheet from t e pack, and longitudinally moving. yielding means cutting under and further separating the sheet.

3. A sheet pack separatin machine including means separating an bending upward the rear end of a sheet from the pack, and means gripping and pulling the sepa: rated end upward and there holding it from forward movement.

4. A sheet pack separating machine including means opening the sheets at one corner of the pack, means opening the corner opened end of a sheet from the pack, and

. means further separating said sheet.

5. A sheet pack separating machine ineluding means opening the sheets at one corner of the pack, means opening the corner opened end of a sheet from the pack, and means cutting under and further separating said sheet.

6. A sheet pack separating machine ineluding means openin one end of a .sheet from the pack, a We ge shoe for further separating said sheet, and means for cutting under said sheet in advance of the. toe of the shoe. 1

7. A sheet pack separating machine including means opening the sheets at one corner of the pack, means clamping the corner opened ends of the sheets, and means opening the same end of one sheet from the pack and releasing the clamping means.

8. A sheet pack separating machine including means opening the sheets at one corner of the pack, means opening the end of a corner opened sheet from the pack,

.means further separating said sheet, and

means delivering the sheet from the machine.

9. A sheet .pack separating machine including means opening and bending one end of a sheet from the pack upward, gripping means engaging and pulling the opened end upward, and moving shoe means Wedging under and further separating said sheet.

10. A sheet pack separating machine including means opening one end of a sheet from the pack, means for delivering the sheet from the machine, and means moving under and further so arating said sheet and carrying its other en to the delivery means.

11. A sheet pack separating machine including means opening and bending one end of a sheet upward, gripping means engaging and pulling the opened end upward, moving shoe means wedgmg and further separating said sheet, and means for cutting under the sheet in advance of the toe of the shoe.

12. A sheet pack separating machine including means opening one end of the sheet from the'paek, a wedge shoe further separating said sheet, means for cutting under the sheet in advance of the toe of the shoe,

comprising a plurality of knives, and means for reciprocating alternate knives to and from cutting position.

13. A sheet pack separating machine includin means opening one end of a sheetthe sheet and releasing the end gripping means.

14. A sheet pack separating machine including means opening one end of a sheet from the pack, a movingshoe wedging under and further separatin said sheet, means for delivering the opene sheet from the'machine and means-on the shoe controlled by its movement for grippin and releasing said sheet and conveying it to the delivering means.

.15. A sheet pack corner opening mechanism including a table having an oblique corner, a swinging arm for clamping and swinging jaws for engaging the corner of the pack at the obli' ue corner of the table, means for swinging t 1e arm and jaws to and from operative position, and means for opcrating the jaws to open the corners of the sheets.

16. A sheet pack end opening mechanism including means opening one corner of the pack, means clamping the corner opened end of the pack, a hold-down bar passing over and an oscillating sword entering under a corner opened sheet, means releasing the end clamp and rotating the sword on the axis of the hold-down bar to bend the opened end upward.

17. A sheet pack separating machine including means opening one end of a sheet from the pack, a moving shoe Wedging under and tart er separating said sheet, means actuated by the movement of the shoe for gripping tie side of saidsheet and releasing the end gripping means; and means on the shoe controlled by its movement for gripping said sheet at the other end and releasing the side gripping means.

18. A sheetpack separating machine including means opening thesheets at one corner of the pack, means clamping the ends of the sheets, gripping means opening the end of a sheet from the pack and releasing the end. clamping. means, a moving shoe wedging under and further separating said sheet, means clamping the side of the separated end of the sheet and releasing the end gripping means, means on the shoe controlled by its movement for gripping the further end of the sheet and releasing the ing weclge means for separating one sheet from another, and reciprocating means cutting between the sheets in advance (if the entering edge of the wedge.

20. Ashect pack opening machine including Wedge means for separating one sheet from another, and means cutting between the sheets in advance of the entering edge of the wedge.

21. A sheet pack opening machine including a plurality of alternately reciprocating knives cutting between contiguous sheets for separating the same.

CARL A. FRAHM. 

